Arterial catheter

Abstract

An assembly is provided for easing the insertion and placement of an arterial catheter in the blood vessel of a patient. The assembly includes the combination of an insertion needle and guide tube which pass through the lumen of a catheter, and prior to use extends slightly out of the distal end of the catheter. The needle, in turn, extends slightly out of the distal end of the guide tube and serves to make the initial insertion through the skin and into the blood vessel. Once initial insertion is made, as indicated by blood "flash back" to the transparent needle hub, the guide tube is advanced through the catheter to provide a tracking path for the catheter. Once the distal end of the catheter has followed the guide tube path, the guide tube and needle are withdrawn. A feature of the invention is a guide tube slide arrangement for controlling the advance and retraction of the guide tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter placement assembly, comprising (a) a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end;   (b) a catheter hub positioned on the proximal end of said catheter;   (c) a catheter placement tube extending coaxially through said catheter lumen;   (d) said catheter placement tube having a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end;   (e) a catheter tube slide body positioned on said catheter placement tube adjacent the said proximal end of said catheter placement tube;   (f) a catheter tube slide positioned on said proximal end of said catheter placement tube;   (g) said catheter tube slide mounted for relative reciprocable movement in said catheter tube slide body;   (h) a catheter placement tube hub positioned on said distal end of said catheter tube slide body for detachable connection to said catheter hub;   (i) an insertion needle extending coaxially through said catheter placement tube lumen;   (j) said insertion needle having a sharpened distal end extending outwardly from said distal end of said catheter placement tube, and a lumen extending from said distal end to the proximal end thereof;   (k) a transparent hollow needle hub positioned on said proximal end of said insertion needle for detachable connection to said catheter tube slide; and   (1) means in said transparent needle hub for venting air therefrom when the said distal end of said needle makes vein entry;   (m) whereby when vein entry has been made, said needle hub is removed from said catheter tube slide body, said needle is removed from said catheter placement tube lumen and said catheter tube slide is moved forward distally through said catheter lumen to provide a guide path for said catheter distal end.   
     
     
       2. The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein (a) said detachable connection between said catheter tube slide body and said catheter hub is a luer lock connection.   
     
     
       3. The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein (a) said detachable connection between said needle hub and catheter hub slide is a luer lock connection.   
     
     
       4. The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein (a) said catheter tube slide body has an elongated slot;   (b) a handle on said catheter tube slide;   (c) said handle extending through said slot for moving said catheter tube slide along said catheter tube slide body.   
     
     
       5. The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein (a) said catheter and said catheter placement tube are comprised of a material which softens when exposed to blood.